PsychoGenics Expands its Drug Discovery Service Capabilities

TARRYTOWN, N.Y.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--PsychoGenics Inc. (PsychoGenics) announced today that it has acquired
equipment and hired experienced scientists from Lundbeck Research USA
and is now in a position to offer expanded services in the areas of
bioanalysis, in vivo microdialysis, EEG and quantitative
histology. In August 2015, Lundbeck announced that it will close its
research operation in Paramus NJ. Following this announcement
PsychoGenics and Lundbeck began discussions to preserve jobs, which has
now been accomplished.

Commenting on the expansion, Emer Leahy, PhD, President and CEO of
PsychoGenics stated: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to hire
talented scientists from Lundbeck. In total 10 scientists, each with
more than ten years of experience in their respective fields, will be
dedicated to microdialysis, bioanalysis, EEG and quantitative histology.
These expanded areas of research complement PsychoGenics already well
established capabilities and when applied to our animal models will
further enhance our understanding of CNS disease.”

About the expanded capabilities

Microdialysis is a sampling technique that is used for continuous
measurement of free, unbound analyte concentrations in the extracellular
fluid, initially developed for central nervous system research, but can
be applied in virtually any tissue. PsychoGenics now offers standard and
quantitative microdialysis methods, as well as sampling of large
molecules, also known as “push-pull” microdialysis. The bioanalysis
capabilities include HPLC, LC/MS/MS and ELISA, allowing quantitative
measurements of small and large molecules, peptides, interleukins,
lipids and other molecules of interest. Analytes include endogenous
molecules (neurotransmitters, hormones, glucose, ATP, amino acids and
metabolites) in order to assess their functions in the body, or
exogenous compounds (e.g. new chemical entities) to determine their
distribution and effect. PsychoGenics will combine microdialysis with
behavioral assays, simultaneous blood and/or CSF sampling to provide
information on PK/PD relationships and translational biomarkers.

Electroencephalography (EEG) has been useful at many stages of Drug
Discovery for its ability to detect potential adverse CNS effects
(safety pharmacology, i.e. seizure liability), assess CNS penetration
and target engagement and can offer a clear pharmacodynamic metric of
drug action or tolerance and thus can enable lead optimization or drug
candidate selection. Further, EEG can be used to identify an effective
dose range that manipulates cortical measurements that are similarly
used in clinical settings. PsychoGenics employs a range of custom
configurations to record cortical EEG (ECoG) or local field potential
recordings from subcortical structures from tethered and telemetric
(wireless) EEG platforms. Services include polysomnographic (sleep-wake)
EEG, anti-epileptic drug screening in seizure models, and auditory
evoked potentials from unanesthetized rats or mice. Electromyography
(EMG) measurements from freely-moving animals are also available.
PsychoGenics will combine EEG with behavioral and/or microdialysis
assays to provide information on PK/PD relationship and translational
biomarkers.

Detailed knowledge of neuropathology/morphology is important for
studying disease dependent changes in the brain. Quantitative histology
significantly contributes to understanding disease progression, the
pathways and mechanisms involved and the effectiveness of treatments.
The histology team at PsychoGenics offers all steps in tissue processing
including embedding, cutting and staining with sampling procedures and
sophisticated statistical approaches employed to minimize bias and
ensure the reproducibility of results to guarantee that data generated
is of the highest quality. Imaging services range from standard
stainings using brightfield, to state-of-the-art multi-fluorescent
immunohistochemistry techniques using high throughput LED
epifluorescence, confocal and multiphoton microscopy. PsychoGenics
customized image analyses routines reveal quantitative information on
structural changes associated with disease models and the effects of new
treatments which can be correlated with changes in behavior,
electrophysiology, biochemistry and neurochemistry.

About PsychoGenics

PsychoGenics is a leading provider of preclinical CNS services. The
Company’s capabilities include behavioral testing, electrophysiology,
translational EEG, quantitative histology, molecular biology and
microdialysis. Complementing its extensive capabilities, the company has
a variety of mouse models including in-licensed transgenic models that
support research in areas such as Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s
disease, Parkinson’s disease, Autism spectrum disorders,
psychosis/schizophrenia, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), muscular
dystrophy and other muscle disorders. PsychoGenics has also pioneered
the translation of rodent behavioral responses into robust, high
throughput, high content phenotyping and its drug discovery platforms,
SmartCube®, NeuroCube®, and
PhenoCube® have led to shared risk partnerships with
major pharma companies such as Sunovion and Roche and has resulted in
the discovery of several novel compounds now in clinical trials or
advanced preclinical development.